Electrothermo bath



Feb. 15, M PETERSIME 2,368,268

ELECTROTHERMO BATH Filed Sept. 28, 1936 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATE 2 ,108,268 nLnorao'rnnaMo BATH Ira P eters ime, Gettysburg,Ohio, assignor to The Petersime Incubator Company, Gettys burg, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application September 28, 1936, Serial No; 102,923

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrothermo bath. It is an object of thisinvention to provide an electrothermo bath comprising a cabinet providedwith foot rest, seat and head-rest'means and equipped with means forraising the temperature therein to a predetermined degree andmaintaining said temperature at saidprede'termined degree.

It is a further object of this invention to prol) vide such anelectrothermo bath which is simple to operate, which requires nocomprehensive adjustment and which is fool-proof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a bath which isof strong construction, while of light weight and fully portable.

It is a further object of this invention to pro vide such a bath whereinthe user is supported in a comfortable semi-recumbent position by meansof a seat inclined. with respect to the horizontal and an inclined footrest formed by a side of the cabinet of the bath, which cabinet is alsoprovided with a head rest adapted to sup-port the head of the user in acomfortable position.

It is a further object of this invention to pro- 3 vide such aconstruction wherein the utmost ventilation is achieved and wherein theinterior is relatively unobstructed whereby to achieve the utmost easeof cleaning. 1

It is a further object of this invention to pro- ,0 vide in such anapparatus a door construction wherein the door is kept in closedposition by its own weight and wherein no latching means is necessary.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such structurewherein a foot rest is provided by an inclined side of the cabinet ofthe electrothermo bath. I 1 I It is a further object'of this inventionto provide such an apparatus wherein the heater is placed 40 in positionfor greatest efliciency of heating by natural convection, wherein theleast danger of injury to the user is encountered and wherein theultimate degree of vaporization of water in the water pan isaccomplished.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in such an apparatusa combined water pan and reflector for aiding in the transfer of heat tothe body of the user, while, at the same time, providing vaporizingmeans for moistening the air in the bath.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in such an apparatusseating means including a back rest particularly adapted to provide theultimate exposure of the back of the user to the heated air in the bath.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means in the cabinetof such an apparatus for retaining a thermometer in order to indicatethe temperature of the interior of the bath.

These and other objects and advantages will 01. izs-s'iii appear fromthe following description taken in connection with the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a View in perspective of the bath with the cabinet doorclosed;

' Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the bath with the cabinet dooropen; and

Figure 3 is an elevational view in section of the bath cabinet, showingthe heater in elevation.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the cabinet of the bath is composedof similar pentagonal side walls, generally designated 9, which arejoined by means of a framework to a horizontal base wall 2, asubstantially vertical rear wall 3, a forwardly, upwardly inclinedbottom wall t and an upwardly and forwardly inclined member 5 whichcooperates with a movable member, hereinafter more clearly described, toform an inclined top wall.

The front wall is formed by a door 6 which is hingedly attached to theframework at one side. The door is provided at its top edge with arearwardly extended, downwardly inclined member 8 which is adapted tohave its edge engage the edge of the member 5 to form the top wall ofthe cabinet. A substantially semicircular notch 9 is formed in theforward edge of the member 5 and a similar and oppositely disposed notchii is formed in the edge ofthe member 8, which notches cooperate to forma substantially circular hole in the top wall of the cabinet which isformed by the members 5 and 8.

The framework joining the walls I, 2, 3, 4 and top wall member 5, andproviding a support for the door 6 and top wall member 8, is preferablyformed of wood and the walls may be formed of any suitable material suchas plywood, which may or may not be provided on its inside surfaces withinsulation, or the walls may, if desired, be formed of insulating wallboard. The inclination, from the vertical, of the hinges H which connectthe door e pivotally to the framework, makes it unnecessary to use anylatching means on the door, as the door will be retained, by its ownweight, in closed position, when it is placed in such position. A handlel2'is provided at the side of the door opposite the hinges H to permitof the opening and closing of the door by the user.

A hole 53 is provided in the framework adjacent the top' forward surfaceof one corner for retaining a thermomemter l4 (Figure 3) for indicatingthe temperature within the cabinet. Extending upwardly from the top wallmember 5 and substantially perpendicular thereto is the head rest I5which is attached by means of brackets Iii to the top wall member 5. Thehead rest I5 is substantially parallel to the plane of the door 6.

Secured to the inside surface of each side wall i is a strip H which isdisposed at slight in- .clination to the horizontal, which strips llsupport therebetween a seat l8 which has attached to the rear edgethereof a pair of spaced strips 19 which are attached at their oppositeends to the top wall member and which form a back rest of such nature asto provide support for the back of a user, while at the same timeexposing the back of such user substantially fully to the heated airwithin the bath cabinet. The inner surface of the forwardly and upwardlyinclined bottom wall 4 provides a foot rest for the user who sits uponthe seat It with his feet resting on the inner surface of the wall 4,with his neck projecting through the aperture formed by thecomplementary notches 9 and Ill and with the back of his head supportedby the head rest IS.

The semi-recumbent position afforded by this disposition of the headrest [5, the seat I8 and the foot rest defined by the wall 4 is such asto provide utmost ease and encourage complete relaxation and repose. Theprovision of the substantial skeleton frame of pentagonal sectionprovides the utmost strength possible for the weight of the cabinetconstruction. The great number of angles provided by this pentagonalconstruction increases the rigidity of the structure. The inclination ofthe wall 4 forwardly and upwardly with respect to the horizontal makesit possible to utilize the inner surface of the wall 4 as a foot restand to avoid the further addition of weight to the cabinet by attachmentthereto of a separate foot rest.

As shown in Figure 2, the portion of the framework to which the hinges Il are attached provides a support for the door 6 when it is open. Inthis position, the door may be easily grasped by a user seated on theseat of the bath, with his feet resting upon the inner surface of thewall 4, and his neck disposed in the notch 10 of the top wall member 5.The user may then close the door and it will, or" its own weight, remainclosed until it is pushed open from the inside by the user. Thisprovides means whereby a user may, at any time, relieve himself fromexcessive heat within the cabinet.

As shown in Figure 2, an aperture 6a may be provided in the door 6 whichmay be opened from the inside to reduce the temperature within the bathcabinet. Any suitable means, such as a slidable or hinged door, may beprovided for varying the effective size of the aperture 6d. Secured tothe inside surface of the base wall 2 is a water pan 2!) which isprovided with upwardly directed front and side flanges and a substantially elongated inclined rear wall 2|, which has its upper end portionsecured to the rear wall 3 and which is adapted to serve as a reflectorfor directing upwardly heat generated by a heater, generally designated22, which is mounted within the water pan 28 and suitably insulatedtherefrom. This heater is provided with suitable resistance coils andelectric energy is fed thereto by conduits 23 and 24 which are connectedto a suitable, adjustable thermostat, generally designated 25. Thethermostat is provided with a suitable base plug 26 which extendsthrough a side wall I and which is adapted to accommodate an electricplug 2! which is connected by means of wires 28 and 29 with a suitablesource of electric energy.

In using the electrothermo bath, approximately a glass-full of water isplaced in the water pan 2!), the electrical plug 21 is inserted in theplug base 26. If the machine has not been previously adjusted, athermometer is inserted in the hole or aperture l3 and the thermostat isadjusted until the temperature, during operation of the apparatus,remains at the constant desired value. After adjustment of thethermostat, in using the machine, it is merely necessary to place waterin the Water pan and insert the plug 21 in the plug base 26, whereby tocomplete the electrical circuit through the thermostat to the heater 22.After the elapse of a few minutes, the temperature within the bathcabinet will reach and remain at the desired predetermined value, andthe user may then open the door 6 and sit upon the seat l8 with his neckdisposed within the notch 9 and his feet supported on the inner side ofthe wall 4 and then close the door 6, after placing a towel about hisneck in order to avoid the escape of heat and/or moist air between hisneck and the aperture provided by the complementary notches 9 and I0.After the temperature within the cabinet has reached the predeterminedvalue, the thermostat 25 will act automatically to retain thetemperature at the predetermined constant.

It will thus be seen that the illustrated structure provides anelectrothermo bath of simple operation, of extremely light weight andportability, wherein the user is supported in a comfortable, restful,recumbent position, and that, due to the simplicity of the constructionof the interior and the avoidance of encumbrance of the interiorsurfaces of the cabinet, the utmost ease of cleaning is achieved.

It will furthermore be seen that, by utilizing a I construction whereinthe door is automatically retained in closed position, without the useof latching means, the user is continually enabled to leave the bath atany time. Likewise, he is able to reduce the heat momentarily by openingthe aperture 6a or partially opening the door 6. It will furthermore beseen that the disposition of the heater is such that the feet of theuser, when he is leaving the machine, will not contact the heater. Itwill furthermore be seen that the disposition of the heater is such thatthe utmost efficiency of vaporization of water in the water pan will beachieved and the ultimate circulation of heat under the force of naturalconvection will be achieved. Furthermore, the reflector 21 will aid inthe direction of heat to the body of the user.

It will further be noted that the back rest construction is such as tocomfortably support the back of the user without preventing heat fromreaching the users back.

It will be understood that the above described structure is merelyillustrative of one manner in which the principles of my invention maybe utilized and that I desire to comprehend within my invention suchmodifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrothermo bath comprising a rigid cabinet having therein,electrically operated heating means, thermostat means for controllingsaid heating means, and a seat disposed at an angle to the horizontal,said cabinet having a wall adapted to serve as an inclined foot rest anda second wall having an aperture adapted to accommodate the neck of auser supported in semi-reclining position by said seat and said footrest.

2. An electrothermo bath comprising a rigid cabinet having therein,electrically operated heating means, thermostat means for controllingsaid heating means, and a seat disposed at an angle to the horizontal,said cabinet having a wall adapted to serve as a foot rest and a secondwall having an aperture adapted to accommodate the neck of a usersupported in semi-reclining position by said seat and said foot rest,said second wall having a rigidly attached head rest adapted to supportthe head of a user.

3. An electrothermo bath comprising a closed rigid cabinet havingtherein, electrically operated heating means, thermostat means forcontrolling said heating means, a seat disposed at an angle to thehorizontal, and a back rest adapted to support the back of a user whilepermitting access of heat thereto, said cabinet having a wall adapted toserve as a foot rest, and a second wall substantially parallel to saidfirst wall having therein an aperture adapted to accommodate the neck ofa user supported in semi-reclining position by said seat and said footrest.

4. In an electrothermo bath, a closed rigid cabinet of pentagonal crosssection having a door adapted to serve as one wall, said door beingadapted to be retained in closed position by its own weight, saidcabinet having a second wall adapted to serve as an inclined foot rest,and a third wall provided with an aperture adapted to accommodate theneck of a user, said lastnamed wall having a head rest thereon and saidcabinet being provided on its interior with an inclined seat connectedby means of a back rest to said third wall, said back rest being adaptedto support the back of a user while providing substantial exposurethereof to the heated air in said cabinet.

5. In an electrothermo bath, a closed rigid cabinet of pentagonal crosssection having an inclined door adapted to serve as one wall, said doorbeing adapted to be retained in closed position by its own weight, saidcabinet having a second wall adapted to serve as an inclined foot rest,and a third wall provided with an aperture adapted to accommodate theneck of a user, said last-named wall having a head rest thereon and saidcabinet being provided on its interior with an inclined seat connectedby means of a back rest to said third wall, said back rest being adaptedto support the back of a user while pro-- viding substantial exposurethereof to the heated air in said cabinet, said cabinet having therein awater pan provided with a thermostat controlled heater.

6. In an electrothermo bath, a closed cabinet of pentagonal crosssection having a door adapted to serve as one inclined wall, said doorbeing adapted to be retained in closed position by its own weight, saidcabinet having a second wall adapted to serve as a foot rest, and athird wall provided with an aperture adapted to accommodate the neck ofa user, said last-named wall having a head rest thereon and said cabinetbeing provided on its interior with an inclined seat connected by meansof a back rest to said third wall, said back rest being adapted tosupport the back of a user while providing substantial exposure thereofto the heated air insaid cabinet, said cabinet having therein a waterpan provided with a thermostat controlled heater and said water panhaving an inclined reflector wall extending upwardly and rearwardlytherefrom and adapted to direct heat through said back rest to the backof the user.

7. In an electrothermo bath, a rigid closed cabinet of pentagonal crosssection having a door adapted to serve as one. inclined wall, said doorbeing adapted to be retained in closed position by its own weight, saidcabinet having a second wall adapted to serve as an inclined foot rest,and a third wall provided with an aperture adapted to accommodate theneck of a user, said last-named wall having a head rest thereon. andsaid cabinet being provided on its interior with an inclined seatconnected by means of a back rest to said third wall, said back restbeing adapted to support the back of a user while providing substantialexposure thereof to the heated air in said cabinet, said cabinet havingtherein a water pan provided with a thermostat controlled heater andsaid water pan having an inclined reflector wall extending upwardly andrearwardly therefrom and adapted to direct heat through said back restto the back of the user, said cabinet being provided with an apertureadapted to .a

support a thermometer within the range of vision of a user forindicating the temperature on the interior of said cabinet.

8. An electrothermo bath comprising a closed rigid cabinet having aninclined wall adapted to serve as a foot rest, an inclined door adapted,of its own weight, to be retained in closed position without latchingmeans, means in said cabinet for supporting and exposing the back of auser, seat means attached thereto, and thermostat controlled heatermeans.

9. An electrothermo bath comprising a closed rigid cabinet having anincline-d wall adapted to serve as a foot rest, an inclined dooradapted, of its own weight, to be retained in closed position withoutlatching means, back rest means in said cabinet for supporting andexposing the back of a user, seat means attached thereto, a water panattached to the floor of said cabinet and having an upwardly extendingside adapted to direct heat through said back rest to the back of auser, and thermostat controlled heater means supported in said water panand adapted to vaporize the water in said pan and heat the air in saidcabinet.

10. In an electrothermo bath, a rigid closed cabinet having a base wallhaving attached thereto a pair of vertical side walls and a plurality ofinclined walls, said walls being connected by a framework hingedlysupporting an inclined door adapted, of its own weight, to be retainedin closed position, one of said inclined walls being adapted to providea foot rest and another of said walls, substantially opposite saidlast-named wall, being provided with a notch adapted to cooperate with asecond notch associated with said door, to provide an aperture foraccommodating the neck of a user when said door is closed.

11. In an electrothermo bath, a cabinet having a base wall havingattached thereto a pair of vertical side walls and a plurality ofinclined walls, said walls being connected by a framework hingedlysupporting an inclined door adapted, of its own weight, to be retainedin closed position, one of said inclined walls being adapted to providea foot rest and another of said walls, substantially opposite saidlast-named wall, being provided with a notch adapted to cooperate with asecond notch associated with said door, to provide an aperture foraccommodating the neck of a user when said door is closed, saidlastnamed wall being provided with a head rest substantially parallel tosaid door.

IRA M. PE'IERSIME.

